WRITING IS RHYTHM. The pace of the story, the change of episodes, the sudden action, the pregnant pause; these are beats of the story, the beats that soothe the crying baby or wake it straight up. Percussionist DAVID ALDERDICE and author CRAIG CHILDS will be your instructors, teaching as a duet on how to create and find your own rhythm in story, poem, or essay.

Students will bounce back and forth between musicality and the craft of writing. With David, you will explore solkattu, traditional rhythmic vocalizations from southern India, along with frame drums, and a selection of exotic instruments. Stepping and clapping patterns will embody the rhythm inside you, and it can come out in whatever you do, be it drumming, driving, walking, or writing.

With Craig, you will turn rhythm into words and story. He’ll take you through writing prompts using beats, punctuation, pace, and flow. Open to musicians, writers, poets, journalists, and anyone who puts one foot in front of the other. Weather permitting, we will work both inside and out. You will write and you will play.